6/22/2023 0 Comments Tico time resortWe do not appreciate being kept in the dark, we do not appreciate being told that our asks will once again be ignored without any reason or explanation,’ said Hébert. “‘This is the biggest fee review in TICO’s history and yet when we met with TICO’s consultants, we have been provided with very partial information and no financial impact analysis on the industry. ‘We will mobilize to make sure TICO and the Ontario government will consider our recommendations and stop placing this unfair and uncompetitive burden on travel businesses.’ “Hébert said that ACTA and CATO will not stay silent until they are informed of the final decision. However, we are very concerned that nowhere does it appear to mention moving to a consumer ‘insurance’ contribution model, that we have long been advocating.’ “We hope the current audit conducted by the office of the Ontario Auditor General – dubbed the ‘Value for Money audit’ – will provide positive results and responses to our concerns. “‘While both organizations applaud the review of TICO, a full review of all TICO programs and administrative costs is needed,’ said Wendy Paradis, ACTA President. “CATO and ACTA have joined forces once again to speak out about shared concerns about the provincial regulator and in particular their opposition to maintaining the current registrant fee system to fund the Ontario Consumer Compensation Fund. TICO’s core mandate being consumer protection,’ said Jean Hébert, CATO Executive Director. “‘Travel registrants will once again be called upon to pay the rising and staggering costs of an inadequate and costly system that doesn’t offer very much to consumers. “This comprehensive review includes modernization of TICO’s current funding framework to ensure sustainable operations of TICO, as well as a full review of the Compensation Fund and associated contributions. “However, ACTA and CATO have been kept largely in the dark on the financial impact on TICO registrants. “Earlier this year, TICO announced the launch of the largest review of its funding framework and fee structure since inception. Yesterday ACTA and CATO released a joint statement, raising the issue of what they say is a lack of transparency in the TICO funding review. In January 2023 TICO provided an update on the review process. More details from TICO’s September 2022 press conference with the trade media can be found here. At that time, both groups said it was clear that despite extensive lobbying efforts, the Ontario government did not intend to revise the funding model. In January 2020, just before the pandemic, industry groups including ACTA and CATO voiced their frustration with the Comp Fund stalemate. Many of those recommendations were implemented – but not the consumer-pay model. It’s the most comprehensive review in TICO’s 25-year history, and as TICO CEO Richard Smart told trade media at the September 2022 press conference, “all options are on the table” for the Comp Fund, from a consumer-pay model, to a risk-based model, to eliminating the Fund altogether.Īt that time, Smart noted that over the course of its 25-year history TICO has facilitated close to $5 million in restitution, and paid out $14.8 million from the Fund, to assist 24,037 consumers.Īs part of a process that started back in 20, TICO made a number of recommendations to Ontario’s then-Liberal government for changes to the Travel Industry Act.
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